Saturday, January 21st

Birmingham (19) v Portsmouth (18)

Blues captain and central defender Kenny Cunningham replaces Martin Taylor, who picked up an ankle injury although it is not as serious as first feared. Chris Sutton makes his home debut alongside Emile Heskey but midfielder Nicky Butt (calf strain) and left-back Jamie Clapham (knee) are out.

Pompey will fly Zimbabwe striker Benjani Mwaruwari to the African Nations Cup by private jet on Sunday but Lomana LuaLua has joined up with the Democratic Republic of Congo, so Mwaruwari will be partnered by Emmanuel Olisadebe or Vincent Pericard. Captain Dejan Stefanovic is suspension-free.

Last season: Birmingham 0 Portsmouth 0, Portsmouth 1 Birmingham 1

Last five league matches: Birmingham L D L W L; Portsmouth D L W L L

Top scorers: Jiri Jarosik (Birmingham) 6; Gary O'Neil & Matthew Taylor (Portsmouth) 4

Match odds: H 21-20 A 11-5 D 21-10

Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).
 
Bolton (7) v Man City (8)

Ivan Campo is likely to return to the Bolton team, with Hidetoshi Nakata suspended. Midfielder Gary Speed (knee) seems certain to be sidelined again, while Henrik Pedersen remains absent with an Achilles problem. Jay-Jay Okocha, El-Hadji Diouf, Abdoulaye Faye and Radhi Jaidi are all away on African Nations Cup duty.

Nedum Onuoha is set to start alongside Sylvain Distin in City's defence with Richard Dunne (knee) a major doubt, David Sommeil banned and Danny Mills (shin) injured. Claudio Reyna (ankle) is out but Ben Thatcher is suspension-free although Stuart Pearce is set to stick closely to the side that beat Manchester United.

Last season: Man City 0 Bolton 1, Bolton 0 Man City 1

Last five league matches: Bolton W D L D D; Man City L L D L W

Top scorers: Kevin Nolan (Bolton) 7; Andy Cole (Man City) 8

Match odds: H 6-5 A 2-1 D 2-1

Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).
 
Everton (14) v Arsenal (5)

Alan Stubbs' return is timely with Nigerian defender Joseph Yobo on African Nations Cup duty and Per Kroldrup in Italy finalising his move to Fiorentina. Captain David Weir and striker Duncan Ferguson should figure but Simon Davies (ankle) is a doubt, so 17-year-old Victor Anichebe is again in the squad.

Sol Campbell (ankle) is fit for Arsenal but fellow defender Ashley Cole is out after picking up a thigh strain. Pascal Cygan (hamstring) and Gael Clichy (foot) are unavailable but Kerrea Gilbert (knee) returns and Lauren is expected to switch to left-back. Dennis Bergkamp is fit after a virus, Robin van Persie is training again after breaking a toe. while Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue are at the African Nations Cup.

Last season: Arsenal 7 Everton 0, Everton 1 Arsenal 4

Last five league matches: Everton L L W W W; Arsenal W W D D W

Top scorers: James Beattie (Everton) 6; Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 16

Match odds: H 7-2 A 7-10 D 11-5

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).

Middlesbrough (17) v Wigan (6)

Stewart Downing returns to the Boro squad after knee surgery but is likely to be on the bench and Gareth Southgate has recovered from an ankle problem. Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has withdrawn a transfer request and hopes for a recall and Doriva is back from a ban but Tony McMahon (shoulder), Franck Queudrue (knee), Malcolm Christie (foot), James Morrison (hip), George Boateng (ankle) and Szilard Nemeth (groin) are out.

New signings David Thompson and Neil Mellor go straight into the Wigan squad, Stephane Henchoz and Paul Scharner are available again and Lee McCulloch and Alan Mahon should figure after returning to training yesterday after injuries. David Connolly, Ryan Taylor, Emerson Thome, Steve McMillan and David Wright are injured, while Henri Camara is on African Nations' Cup duty with Senegal.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Middlesbrough D L D D L; Wigan W W L L L

Top scorers: Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Middlesbrough) 14; Jason Roberts (Wigan) 11

Match odds: H 6-5 A 15-8 D 21-10

Referee: A Marriner (W Midlands).

Newcastle (13) v Blackburn (9)

Midfielder Emre is back in the Magpies squad after a hamstring problem, while Titus Bramble has recovered from an ankle injury. However, Michael Owen (foot), Scott Parker (knee), Steven Taylor (shoulder), Stephen Carr (groin), Shola Ameobi (hip), Craig Moore (hamstring) and Amady Faye (international duty) are all out.

With Shefki Kuqi and Paul Dickov the only recognised strikers available - Craig Bellamy and David Bentley are banned - youngster Jemal Johnson may get a place on the Rovers bench. Captain Andy Todd is a doubt because of illness while Dominic Matteo (ankle) is also a doubt.

Last season: Blackburn 2 Newcastle 2, Newcastle 3 Blackburn 0

Last five league matches: Newcastle W L L D L; Blackburn L W W W D

Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 8; Craig Bellamy (Blackburn) 9

Match odds: H 5-4 A 9-5 D 21-10

Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire)
 
Tottenham (4) v Aston Villa (15)

Spurs coach Martin Jol has doubts surrounding his main central defensive pairing - Ledley King continues to play through the pain barrier with a persistent groin problem while Michael Dawson has a shin injury. Mido and Noureddine Naybet are on African Nations Cup duty and Paul Stalteri is suspended, but Andy Reid returned to training this week following knee ligament problems.

Villa's Gareth Barry is free from suspension and set to take over from Jlloyd Samuel at left-back as Wilfred Bouma is still sidelined by a knee problem. Lee Hendrie is set for a rare start as a replacement in midfield for Eirik Bakke - who has returned to Leeds after a loan spell. Striker Kevin Phillips will not be risked despite his successful return from ankle surgery for the reserves in midweek.

Last season: Tottenham 5 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 1 Tottenham 0

Last five league matches: Tottenham W L W W L; Aston Villa W D D W L

Top scorers: Mido (Tottenham) 9; Milan Baros & Steven Davis (Aston Villa) 6

Match odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 23-10

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire)

West Brom (16) v Sunderland (20)

Defenders Neil Clement and Darren Moore return after a cheekbone injury and a ban respectively. Geoff Horsfield and Steve Watson (hamstring), Kevin Campbell (calf) and Paul Robinson (knee) are doubts but Zoltan Gera and Thomas Gaardsoe are injured and Kanu and Diomansy Kamara are on African Nations Cup duty.

Mick McCarthy is unlikely to make many changes after Sunday's display against Chelsea, although Christian Bassila, substitute in the last two games after returning from a hamstring injury, hopes for a recall.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: West Brom L W L L W; Sunderland L D L L L

Top scorers: Nathan Ellington (West Brom) 6; Anthony Le Tallec & Dean Whitehead (Sunderland) 4

Match odds: H 8-13 A 4-1 D 23-10

Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

Sunday, January 22nd

Chelsea (1) v Charlton (11)

Loan signing Maniche is considered fit enough to play some part in the game by Blues boss Jose Mourinho. Didier Drogba is on African Nations Cup duty so Hernan Crespo and Carlton Cole compete for the striker's role, Michael Essien is recovering from ankle ligament damage, while Arjen Robben is suspended.

Marcus Bent hopes to make his Charlton debut but may start on the bench, midfielder Alexei Smertin will not be available under the terms of his season-long loan deal from the Blues, while Danny Murphy, Jerome Thomas and Jay Bothroyd are pressing for recalls. Gonzalo Sorondo (foot) is definitely out and fellow centre-back Talal El Karkouri is on international duty with Morocco at the African Nations Cup.

Last season: Chelsea 1 Charlton 0, Charlton 0 Chelsea 4

Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W W W; Charlton L L W L W

Top scorers: Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 14; Darren Bent (Charlton) 14

Match odds: H 1-7 A 11-1 D 5-1

Referee: S Bennett (Kent)

Man Utd (2) v Liverpool (3)

Sir Alex Ferguson hopes to have Alan Smith back from an ankle problem. Paul Scholes (blurred vision) and Park Ji-sung (knee) are definitely out - as is Cristiano Ronaldo, who is serving a three-match ban.

Luis Garcia and Bolo Zenden are the only Liverpool absentees with knee injuries, although the Spaniard may return to action for next Sunday's FA Cup fourth round tie at Portsmouth.

Last season: Liverpool 0 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 2 Liverpool 1

Last five league matches: Man Utd W D W D L; Liverpool W W W D W

Top scorers: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 18; Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 16

Match odds: H 11-10 A 11-5 D 2-1

Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire)

Monday, January 23rd

West Ham (10) v Fulham (12)

Hammers striker Teddy Sheringham is available again following a calf injury but goalkeeper Roy Carroll is  having intensive treatment for a back muscle problem, with Shaka Hislop on stand-by. Matthew Etherington (foot) is a doubt but fellow midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker should be fit despite missing training with an unspecified problem. Right-back Tomas Repka makes his final appearance before joining Sparta Prague.

New signing Wayne Bridge goes straight into Fulham's starting line-up at the expense of Niclas Jensen. Fellow defender Ian Pearce is out with hamstring and back injuries so Alain Goma is likely to start, right-back Moritz Volz returns after a rib fracture but there is a doubt over Steed Malbranque (groin).

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: West Ham D L L L W; Fulham L D L W W

Top scorers: Marlon Harewood (West Ham) 10; Brian McBride (Fulham) 9

Match odds: H 21-20 A 23-10 D 2-1

Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).